I'll spare you the puns associated with the dirty job of cleaning cloth diapers. We have all heard them more times than we care to remember, and if we had dime for every time, we could hire somebody to come in a few times a week and do it for us. We have also covered the basics of spraying, dunking, and washing, but ultimately you'll wonder why some stains are more difficult to get out than others, and what can be done after you've exhausted your main options.

A lady on our Facebook page asked today about tackling tough poop stains. She did everything you would normally do - spray, use special cloth diaper detergent, but those faded streaks of brown remain. It was suggested to spray a formula of lemon water on the diaper and lay it out in the sun for a day to dry. Citrus is known to work on stains, yes, but what caught my attention was the remark after that, that the parent wasn't sure if this would void the warranty on the cloth diaper.

If you're not familiar with cloth diapers, some brands do carry warranties (see FuzziBunz, Bummis, and bumGenius for three examples), which may be voided if you do anything to the diaper that compromises its quality and durability. The bumGenius warrant, for one, voids if the diaper is washed in water above 150 degrees or if you use a detergent containing additives like dyes, perfumes or essential oils.

Lemon, being a natural product, may fall into gray area with certain brands, so if you're unsure it's best to contact the diaper manufacturer directly (or ask a helpful cloth diaper pro) if lemon is kosher. It does bring to mind a question, however: if you know a certain product can definitely remove set in stains, is it worth risking the warranty? It's one thing to use the wrong kind of battery for your radio or flashlight, but a cloth diaper is going on your baby's skin - are you better off living with a mark or two on your inserts? Using solutions made of citrus can also erupt allergic reactions, so if you're trying something like that use your good judgment.